Manufacture of aliphatic chlor compounds



' ends, the invention, then,

being carried out in Patented May 6, 1930 CHARLES J. STROSACKER, F MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR COMPANY, OF MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN MANUFACTURE OF ALIPHATIC CHLOE COMPOUNDS i No Drawing.

The present improvements relating, as iiiclicated, 'to the manufacture of aliphatic chlor-conipounds, have more particular regard to amethod whereby trichlor-acetic acid (CCl CO I-I) may be prepared by the direct chlorination of acetic acid.

The object of the present invention accordingly is to provide a relatively simple and direct method wherein acetic acid and chlorine, both of which are readily available, may be utilized as the basic ingredients in the process, viz, to make trichlor-acetic acid. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related consists of the steps hereinafter fully described and particular y pointed out in the claims, the following de-' scription setting forth but several of the various ways in which the principle of the in-' vention may be used. v

lVhile trichlor-acetic acid may be variously prepared, I preferably make such acid by direct chlorination of acetic acid in the presence of a .chlorinating catalyst, the reaction stages at successively It is known that monobe prepared by directacid. I have discovhigher temperatures. ch or-acetic acid may ly chlorinating acetic cred that by conducting such chlorination in the presence of a catalyst such as acetic anh dride, sulphur, sulphur chloride, or phospliorous, and by continuing such chlorination at a somewhat higher temperature, the dichlor-compound is obtained, and upon still further continuing the chlorination with catalyst present at an elevated temperature, the trichlor-compound is obtained. The latter has a. melting point (approximately 5 C.) higher than normal room temperature and so will solidify if allowed to cool to such temperature. v v

Since no stage-wise purifications'are necessary in this process, it will be seen thus that partially chlorinated acetic acid, as for inacetic acid. can be conveniently worked stance dichlor-acetic acid available sometimes as a by-product in a process primarily designed for the preparation of monochlorfurther chlorination as described.

The temperature in the final chlorination stage will run up froin150 to 160 C. and

Application filed December 9, 1924. Serial No. 754,858.

such chlorination is carried to the point acetic acid in the presence of a chlorinating catalyst to form mono-chlor acetic acid, and continuing such chlorination at successively higher temperatures until the tri-chlor compound is obtained.

2. The steps which consist in chlorinating acetic acid in the presence of a sul )l1Ill-COIlta ning catalystto form mono-chlor acetic acid, and continuing such chlorination at successively higher temperatures until the trichlor compound is obtained.

3. The steps which consist in chlorinating acetic acid in the presence of sulphur chloride to form monochlor acetic acid, and continuing such chlorination at successively higher temperatures until the trichlor compound is obtained. 7

4. The steps which consist in chlorinating acetic acid in the presence of a chlorinating catalyst to form monochlor acetic acid and continuing such chlorination at successively higher temperatures up to approximately C. whereat from to per cent. of trichlor-acetic acid is formed.

5. The steps which consist in chlorinating acetic acid in the to form monochlor acetic acid, and continuing such chlorination at successively higher temperatures up. to approximately to C. whereat from 85 to 90 per cent. of trichlor-acetic acid is formed.

Signed 1924.

CHARLES J. STROSACKER.

TO THE DOW CHEMICAL v presence of sulphur chloride,

by me this 6th day of December,

method herein disclosed, provided 

